James keith



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J, KEITH. APPARATUS FOR PUMPING 0R RAISING LIQUIDS.

Patented Oct. 26.1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.'

J. KEITH, APPARATUS FOR PUMPING OR RAISING LIQUIDS.

Patented Oct. 26,1897.

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Witnessw.

FFICEQ PATENT JAMES KEITH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PUMPING OR RAISING LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,633, dated October 26, 1897. Application fi led November I, lt9 5. Serial No. 567,923. No model.) Patented in England January 4, 1895, N0. 260.

subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at 57 'Holborn Viaduct, in the city of London, Eng- 1 land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping or Raising Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has been patented in England, No. 260, dated January 4, 1895.

This invention, which relates to apparatus for pumping or raising liquids and is chiefly applicable for raising beer, has for its object to insure that a practically uniform air-pressure will be automatically maintained on the surface of the beer or other liquid to be raised irrespective of the quantity drawn off from time to time.

As illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the pumping apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modification of the water-controlling valve of same. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the compressor-cylinder and valves. Fig. 4 is a section on line a: m of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a section on line y y of Fig. 4.

The apparatus comprises a water-motor A, which may be of the construction shown in the drawings or of other type, the piston-rod B of which is connected to a piston O on thecylinder of an air-compressor D, from which air under suitable pressure is led through a valve-casing E, containing suction and discharge valves 17, d, '5, and j, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, by piping F to the casks or other vessels G, containing the beer or other liquid to be raised. From this piping F a branch pipe H is led and connected to operate valve apparatus I, designed to control the supply of water to the water-motor A, whereby upon any lowering of the air-pressure due to withdrawal of the beer or liquid water is supplied to the motor A until by its actuation of the air-compressor D the air-pressure within the vessel is restored to the normal. This valve apparatus I consists of a casing J divided by a diaphragm K or fitted with aplunger, to the upper side of which the branch air-pipe H is connected, so that the air-pressure tends to depress the plunger or diaphragm K. On

the under side of diaphragm K is a steampiece L which bears on the short end of a le- Iver M, fulcrumed on the casingand having an adjustable weight N on the long end.

5 The lower side of the short end of the lever bears on the stem 0 of a valve P, which isffitted normally to close when seated, an auxiliary water-passage Q, communicating between the opposite sides of the valve, serving to admit Water to the motor A.

The main valve R, which is seatedin aweb in the water-supply pipe U, is formed or fitted on the lower end of a piston S, fitting loosely in a casing T, the upper end of which communicates by the passage Q, before referred to, with the water-supply pipe U on the motor side of the valve.

In the modification of Fig. 2 the air-pressure enters in below the diaphragm, and the weighted lever acts on the top of the same said lever having an extended arm to engage the stem of the auxiliary valve to control the same, andthis valve'is located laterally to one side of the main valve R, and a port pleads from above the valve R to the valve P.

In the operation of this apparatus immediately upon the withdrawal of any quantity of the beer or other liquid forced up by the air and consequent reduction of the air-pressure the weighted lever M overcomes the downward pressure of air on the diaphragm K of the water-valve-controlling apparatus. The pressure of the lever M being taken off the top of the small valve P in the auxiliary passage Q, said valve P is forced up by the pressure of the water underneath which has leaked past the piston, whereupon the pressure-water above the piston S on the main water-controlling valve R escapes by the passage Q to the motor side of the supply-pipe U, thereby allowing the controlling-valve R to rise and admitting water through the valveseat V to the valve W of the motor A.

The valve R is carried by a piston S, fitting loosely in its casing, so that the water can get above the valve, and when this pressure is confined by the valve P the valve R cannot rise .to open its port; but upon the valve P rising when the air-pressure is reduced the pressure will be relieved from above the piston S andthe valve R will be free to rise. The spring, as in Fig. 1, is used to press the valve R downward. The motor A is thereby put into operation and acting on the air-compressor D restores the normal air-pressure in the piping F II.

lVhen the air-pressure upon the upper side of the diaphragm K of the water-controlling apparatus I falls below the normal, the end of the weighted lever M, bearing upon the stem 0 of the valve P, rises, allowing the valve P to open the passage Q, through which passes freely the water which has leaked past the loosely-fitting piston-valve R and which formerly acted to keep the valve R upon its seat V, thereby reducing the downward pressure upon the interior of the valve R and permitting the supply-water. to raise said valve and pass by way of the valve-seat V to the motorvalve \V. hen the air-pressure again rises, the diaphragm stem L bears down the weighted lever M, which in turn acts to close the valve P, thereby again establishing a pressure upon the interior of the piston-valve R, which pressure, together with the pressure of the spring, acts to close said valve against the resistance of the supply-water passing to the motor through the valve-seat V. Diaphragm K in the valve-controlling apparatus I is depressed against the power of the weighted lever M and the valve P in the auxiliary waterway Q closed.

The piston slide-valve \V of the motor is arranged as follows: The main valve 7' consists of four pistons, the two outside ones J and K being fitted with cupleathers and used for moving the valve, and the two inside ones L and M being packed with leather strips and used to open and close the ports of motor to pressure and exhaust alternately. The space between the two inner pistons is always in communication with the pressure-water, and the two spaces between the pistons K and L and J and M are always in communication with the exhaust. The main-valve interior forms a cylinder in which the auxiliary valve N works and controls the position of the main valve W by opening and closing ports leading to the back of pistons J and K. The ports consist of circles of small holes in the position indicated by O, D, I and G. The ports 0 and G open into the two exhaust-spaces and D and F lead into annular spaces connected to backs of pistons K and J by passages B and A, respectively. In the position of the valve shown on the drawings the piston B of the motor A has almost completed its stroke to the left and is about to move the auxiliary valve N to the right. \Vhile this stroke was taking place the space adjacent to the piston J was open to the exhaust and the space adjacent to the piston K open to the pressurewater which found its way through the hole II and passage B to the back of the piston K; but now the conditions are about to be altered,and when the valve N has been moved by the action of the piston-rod B of the motor A the pressure-water will find its way through the hole II and small holes F to the passage A and thence to the piston J. At the same time the space adjacent to the piston K has been opened to the exhaust by the auxiliary valve N uncovering the small port 0. This causes the main slide-Valve IV to move to the left and admits the water-pressure to the lefthand side of motor-piston B through the circular port P, at the same time allowing the water at right-hand side of motor-piston B to exhaust through port It. The reverse action takes place at the end of right-hand side stroke of piston 13.

The action of the water-controlling valve shown at Fig. 2 is similar to that described with reference to the same valve, Fig. 1. \Vhen the air-pressu re which is in this case admitted to the underside of the diaphragm has fallen below the normal, the small valve P is raised from its seat by the action of the lever M, and the pressure-water which has leaked past the loosely-fitting piston S and has been acting on the upper side of the main controlling-valve R to close the same now escapes by the passage Q, and the valve R is raised by the unhindered action of the water on the under side of the piston S.

The valve-casing E maybe fitted with suction and discharge valves of any construction, but as they form no part of my invention I have not illustrated them herein.

Having now described the invention, what I desire to secure and claim by Letters Patent is 1. In combination,the liquid tank or holder, the air-pressure pipe leading thereto, the compressor connected with said pipe, a motor for operating the air-compressor, a fluid-supply leading thereto, a main valve arranged to control said supply and to receive the pressure thereof on both its sides, a supplemental valve controlling the pressure on one side of the main valve, a diaphragm for controlling the supplemental valve with connections thereto and an air-pipe leading to the diaphragm and eonnectin g with the liquid-tank,substantially as described.

2. In combination theliquid tank or holder, the air-pressure pipe leading thereto, the compressor connected with said pipe, a motor for operating the air-compressor, a fluid-supply leading thereto, a main valve arranged to control said supply and to receive the pressure thereof on both its sides, a supplemental valve controlling the pressure on one side of the main valve, a diaphragm for controlling the supplemental valve, with connections thereto consisting of the weighted lever and an airpipe leading to the diaphragm and connecting with the liquid-tank, substantially as described.

Signed at London this 14th day of September, 1895.

JAMES KEITII.

Witnesses:

IIENRY ROBERT THOMPSON, GEORGE ALBERT AKERS.

IIO 

